Purpose of the post
•Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
•Provide comprehensive housing options advice on housing matters and homelessness prevention to members of the public and in doing so, enable the Gwynedd Common Housing Register Partnership to achieve its vision, aims and objectives.
•First point of contact for all housing department enquires via email, phone, website and provide advice and resolution in majority of cases.
Responsibility for functions
•Overseeing any equipment machine or goods related to the above duties
Main duties
•Carry out full advice and assistance on all aspects of housing to members of the public on the telephone, by e-mail or by interview, at the Council’s offices or in exceptional circumstances, clients’ homes. Give advice and assistance on how to retain, obtain and maintain accommodation in order to prevent homelessness in all forms of tenure, and to assess eligibility for housing in line with the relevant legislation.
•Interview and assess any person/household indicating that they are in housing need, assessing their circumstances to identify appropriate options and actions.
•Ensure adequate advice and information is available from other agencies, to signpost these services to the client when appropriate and to refer the client to agencies and to work with these agencies to ensure the best support is provide to each client.
•Assess and input housing application forms. In exceptional circumstances, home visits will be required.
•Ensure that housing applications are entered onto the Housing Register, verified in line with the relevant policy, and that applicants are issued with written confirmation of their application status.
•Take part in actively managing the Housing Register, updating applications and carrying out regular reviews. Once property is let, ensure that information is updated on register.
•Ensure register is up to date at all times.
•Carry out audits of all shortlists for properties allocated via the housing register.
•Ensure that any specialist housing requirements are clearly documented and recorded and communicated with relevant departments.
•Respond to correspondence from councillors and Members of parliament.
•Respond to all correspondence from the public in relation to all housing department enquiries. Providing up to date information and advice to support the people of Gwynedd.
•Make appropriate referrals to the Council’s Homelessness Service where all other housing options and homelessness prevention initiatives have been explored.
•Refer claims of illegal eviction and harassment to the Private Sector Housing Team.
•Assist in maintaining the Housing Options website.
•Ensure the Partnership’s service standards for the Housing Options Team and Common Housing Register are adhered to.
•Ensure the client’s confidentiality and operate the Information Sharing Protocol for the Housing Options Service.
•Request a visit from the Council’s Environmental Health Officer (E.H.O.) or another recognised agency, where it would appear that the property an applicant is occupying contains significant levels of overcrowding and/or significant hazards exist within the property.
•Provide advice and support to applicants who wish to be registered for Affordable Housing Register and / or other forms of housing such as private sector renting, extra care housing etc.
•Keep up to date on all housing, matrimonial, family, equal opportunities and other relevant legislation, case law and Council / Registered Social Landlords’ policy as well as housing and welfare benefits issues.
•Ensure that all applicants can access the service by ensuring that information is available in other relevant languages and formats.
•Maintain accurate records and written reports in respect of all cases investigated and provide appropriate statistics maintaining client confidentiality at all times.
•Be proactive in developing partnership working with other agencies to reduce the incidence of homelessness and to widen support networks for homeless people.
•Contribute to the strategies, policies and projects developed by the Housing Partnership.
•Stimulate innovative approaches to dealing with issues.
•Ensure the safety of all staff, service users and other in accordance with the relevant health and safety procedures and provisions.
•Any other duty, as directed, commensurate with the grading of the post.
•Housing Associations
•Strategic Housing Team
•Homelessness Service
•Housing Benefits
•Environmental Health
•Legal Services
•Social Services
•Other Local Authorities
•Health Board and Agencies
•Voluntary Agencies
•Private sector landlords
•Lettings agencies
•Responsibility for self-development.
•Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
•Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
•Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
•Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
•Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
•Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
Special circumstances
•At times, it will be necessary to work unsociable hours.